ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER
US, 1970, 130 minutes, Colour.
Barbra Streisand, Yves Montand, John Richardson, Jack Nicholson, Bob Newhart, Larry Blyden, Simon Oakland, Pamela Brown.
Directed by Vincent Minnelli.
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever is light and easy-to-take entertainment. This comedy-musical can be recommended to anyone. Even if Barbra Streisand didn't sing a note, her versatility and verve, her capacity for comedy scenes, impersonations and the tossing off of quick repartee ensure her success. Yves Montand, having a rest from social significance, obviously charms the feminine audience with his smile. The action ranges from U.S. 1970, back to London of the 1840s (with plenty of Cecil Beaton Regency Costumes), forward to 2038, for the story is about extra-sensory perception and reincarnation. Some almost superfluous songs are sung, "Come Back to W' being cleverly entertaining; there is more plot than usual; but the Streisand comedy is what is best.
1. How enjoyable and successful a musical? A comedy? Which predominated? The importance of the colour and Panavision? The colourful if gaudy credits? The quality of the music and the songs? The American modern background? The contrast with 19th century Britain? Why do audiences enjoy these ingredients?
2. The quality of the film as a Barbra Streisand vehicle?
3. Barbra Streisand and her comic style? Her portrayal of the character of Daisy Gamble? Her impulsiveness, feeling a nothing, her relationship with her fiance, her smoking and her chatter, her mannerisms? How real a person was Daisy Gamble or was she a caricature?
4. Daisy Gamble as hypnotised? The contrast as a funny character under hypnosis? Her E.S.P., the flowers at the start and the song, knowing when the phone would ring, the hypnosis and smoking?
5. Bach Schabot: Yves Montand's personality, as a professor, French, his work, his disbelief, fascination with Melinda, preoccupation? His interviews, the human element, his love for Melinda and disregard for Daisy? His hurting of Daisy? His not understanding himself?
6. How well did the film show Melinda emerging from Daisy? Barbra Streisand's skill in portraying both characters almost at once?
7. The editing of the Melinda character in with Daisy? The skilful change of time? Helping the audience to understand the possibilities of reincarnation and E.S.P.?
8. The Melinda character: as she emerged from the court case, her role in British society, the revelation about her mother, her powers, her aiming for Sir Robert Tentrees, the marriage, his abandoning her, trial, death? How interesting a character? The opulence with which the setting was presented? The atmosphere of the British court? The trial scene and the way it was staged?
9. The effect of the truth on Daisy?
10. Daisy's fiance and the comedy about the American male? The satire on big business? The satire on the Board of the hospital and its disbelief, then its changing its mind, the theories about the man who endowed the hospital?
11. The character of Tad? Jack Nicholson's personality? His relationship to Daisy, his advice, his wanting to marry her?
12. The dramatic impact of the song "Come Back To Me"? Its place in the film? The revelation of the truth to Doctor Chabot? His regard for Daisy? The visualising of this song and its setting in New York? The humour, especially of the words coming through various people and animals for Daisy? How was it a high point of the film?
13. The role of the song "On A Clear Day"? Its significance for the characters? Its irony for the theme? What did the other songs contribute?
14. The ironic happy ending? Happy for 1970, or at least satisfactory? Happy for the future?
15. How seriously should E.S.P. and reincarnation be taken? Are they possible? The reincarnation and the investigations by Doctor Fuller? The coincidences about the past? The anticipation of the future?
16. Was the film mainly a musical? A musical comedy? Its emphasis on people and plot? Its portrayal of human values?
